This is a compelling book with a dual narrative and timeline. In present day Zimbabwe, 14-year-old Tumi desperately wants to be selected for the Zimbabwean National swimming team. Partly this is because of his need for acceptance as he has Albinism.He sees success in swimming as a way of mitigating the problems caused by the attitudes of some of his classmates. Albinism is a significant genetic variation in Zimbabwe and the author’s stated intention is to draw attention to the discrimination suffered by people with the condition and some of the myths which lead to their persecution.
We learn early on that Tumi himself has suffered an attack by his uncle because of this ignorance and that he blames, and fears, his grandmother for her apparent part in his abduction.
The second narrative is that of his grandmother’s experiences during the war for Zimbabwean independence in the 70s. Hers is a compelling and harrowing story of the appalling way black Africans were treated and dehumanised in the former Rhodesia. Although the author outlines the atrocities committed on both sides, the point is made that if you treat people as if they are not human beings, you cannot be surprised - or blame them - if they bite back.
As Tumi and his grandmother spend time together, he learns of her story and her path towards forgiveness. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers. Loved the language with use of Shona idioms and honorifics. The Colours that Blind is marketed as a young adult book but in spite of being decades beyond that age group I thoroughly enjoyed it.
We learn early on that Tumi himself has suffered an attack by his uncle because of this ignorance and that he blames, and fears, his grandmother for her apparent part in his abduction.
The second narrative is that of his grandmother’s experiences during the war for Zimbabwean independence in the 70s. Hers is a compelling and harrowing story of the appalling way black Africans were treated and dehumanised in the former Rhodesia. Although the author outlines the atrocities committed on both sides, the point is made that if you treat people as if they are not human beings, you cannot be surprised - or blame them - if they bite back.
As Tumi and his grandmother spend time together, he learns of her story and her path towards forgiveness. I won’t say more for fear of spoilers. Loved the language with use of Shona idioms and honorifics. The Colours that Blind is marketed as a young adult book but in spite of being decades beyond that age group I thoroughly enjoyed it.